Utility sled



06f. 30, 1962 R. K. RASMUSSEN 3,061,326

UTILITY SLED Filed Oct. 10, 1960 INVENTOR. 50) KfinsMc/sszw United States Patent 3,061,326 UTILITY SLED Roy K. Rasmussen, Perham, Minn. Filed Get. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 61,604 3 Claims. (Cl. 280--2t)) This invention relates to apparatus for use in transporting objects and more specifically to apparatus for use in transporting animal carcasses over the surface of the ground.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel groundtraversing apparatus, of simple and inexpensive construction, for use in transporting animal carcasses and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus for use in transporting animal carcasses and the like and including a portable carcasssupporting frame having a ground engaging ski member especially adaptable for traversing snow or ice covered surfaces.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved ground-traversing apparatus for transporting animal carcasses and the like and which includes a ski-mounted carcass supporting frame arranged and constructed for folding between collapsed and erected positions so that the apparatus is of relatively small compass when in folded position to thereby facilitate handling of the apparatus.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like character references refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of my invention with a carcass-supporting frame illustrated in folded position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of my invention with the carcass-supporting frame illustrated in an erect position; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken approximately along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that one embodiment of my invention designated in its entirety by the reference numeral includes a substantially flat elongate ground-engaging ski member or runner 11. Ski member 11 is formed of a suitable rigid material such as wood or the like and has upwardly curved end portions 12.

My towing apparatus 10 also includes a carcass-supporting frame 13 rigidly mounted on the ski member 11 and which includes a plurality of frame sections foldable between erect operative and collapsed inoperative positions. The carcass-supporting frame 13 includes an intermediate frame section 14 centrally located with respect to the ski member 11 and extending longitudinally thereof. The frame 13 also includes a pair of end frame sections 15 extending upwardly from opposite ends of the intermediate frame section 14.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it Will be seen that the intermediate frame section 14, which is formed of rigid metallic material, as are the end frame sections 15, is comprised of a pair of U-shaped members 16 which extend transversely of the ski member 11 and which are disposed in spaced apart relation with respect to each other. Each of these U-shaped members 16 includes a bight portion 17 and upwardly and laterally extending legs 18 as best seen in FIG. 3. It will be noted that the U-shaped members are secured upon the upper surface of the ski member 11 by means of bolts 19. The intermediate frame section 14 also includes a pair of lower longitudinally extending frame elements 20, each extending between and having its opposite ends rigidly connected with adjacent legs of the U-shaped members 16. Inter- 3,061,326 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 mediate frame section 14 also includes a pair of upper elongate longitudinally extending frame elements 21 extending between and interconnected with the upper terminal portions of the legs 18 of the U-shaped members 16. It will be noted that the upper frame elements 21 are substantially longer than the lower frame elements 20 and extend longitudinally beyond the U-shaped members 16. Referring now to FIG. 3 it will be seen that the intermediate frame section is of substantially channelshaped configuration and is actually of a size to suitably receive the torso of an animal carcass such as a deer or the like.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it will be seen that each of the end frame sections 15 is of elongate U'-shaped configuration and each includes a bight portion 22 having elongate legs 23 extending therefrom. The legs 23 of each of the end frame sections 15 are interconnected intermediate their respective ends 'by a transverse brace element 24 to provide suitable re-enforcement of the legs. The end frame sections 15' are pivotally or hingedly connected to their associated end portions of the intermediate frame section 14 by means of pivot bolts 25 which pass through'suitable apertures formed in the upper longitudinally extending frame elements 2 1and the terminal portions of the legs 23. A wing nut 26 cooperates with each pivot bolt 25 and defines locking means for locking the end frame sections in an erect operative position as illustrated in FIG. 2. The Wing nut may be loosened to permit the end frame section 15 to be folded to inoperative position as illustrated in FIG. 1. 'In this connection, it will be seen that the end frame elements 15 may be adjusted to an angulated position with respect to the intermediate frame section 14, preferably extending upwardly and longitudinally of the intermediate frame section when in the operative position.

One of the upwardly curved end portions 12 of ski member 11 is provided with a recess or aperture 27 which provides a suitable means for securing one end of an elongate flexible element or tow rope 28 to the ski member 11. The end frame section 15 adjacent the end of ski member 11 having the recess therein is provided with a U-shaped guide element 29 fixed to the bight portion thereof and the tow rope 28 is extended through this guide portion which upward disposition of the tow rope facilitates the towing of the apparatus especially when it is fully loaded with an animal carcass or the like.

In use, my towing apparatus 10 may be folded into the collapsed position and suitably transported to a vicinity in which the deer camp happens to be conducted by means of a conventional automobile carrier rack. It will be seen that when the towing apparatus 10 is in the collapsed position, it comprises an assembly of relatively small compass and is, therefore, easy for a single person to handle. After a hunter bags a deer and it is then desirable to bring the animal carcass back to the camp site or to the hunters automobile, it will be seen that the deer carcass may be positioned Within a carcasssupporting frame 13, the latter being, of course, disposed in an erected operative position. When a deer carcass is so loaded in the carcass-supporting frame, the torso of the carcass ofthe animal will be positioned within the channel-shaped intermediate frame member while the end frame sections provide means for support of the legs or appendages of the deer. The tow rope will be extended through the guide element 29 and when the tow rope is pulled taut for towing the apparatus 10 the resultant direction of the pulling force will be spaced above the ski-support member 11. This arrangement prevents any tendency of the apparatus to tilt even when the apparatus is towed over relatively rough, uneven terrain. It will also be seen that inasmuch as the deer carcass will be positioned within the channel-shaped interme- :3 diate frame section which is disposed centrally of the ski member 11, the center of gravity of the apparatus when loaded will be disposed quite close to the ground which also tends to provide a relatively stable towing mechanism. The ski member 11 permits the towing apparatus to be easily pulled over almost any surface and is especially adaptable for traversing snow or ice covered surfaces.

It is to be understood that my towing apparatus may be used to tow other things beside the carcasses of deer and may be used equally well, for example, in towing ducks, fish, or the like.

It will, therefore, be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a novel apparatus for use in transporting animal carcasses which includes a a carcass-supporting frame mounted on a ground-engaging ski memmer to permit ready traversal of my apparatus over snow or ice-covered surfaces.

It will also be seen from the preceding paragraphs that I have provided a ground-traversing apparatus for use in transporting the caracasses of deer or the like which includes a frame which is readily foldable between collapsed and erect positions so that the apparatus is of relatively small compass when it is in its folded position. It will be noted that the foldable feature of my apparatus facilitates handling of the apparatus when transporting the device from one vicinity to another and also permits the device to be adjusted for supporting different objects.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a novel ground-traversing apparatus for transporting the carcasses of animals and the like, which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction but which functions in a more efficient manner than any heretofore known comparable devices.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. Ground traversing apparatus for use in transporting animal carcasses and the like, said apparatus comprising an elongate, substantially fiat, ground-engaging ski mem- Lil her having upwardly curved end portions, a foldable carcass-supporting frame mounted on said ski member and including a substantially channel-shaped intermediate frame section centrally positioned upon and fixedly connected with said ski member andextending longitudinally thereof, a pair of elongate end frame section pivotally connected with opposite end portions of said intermediate frame sections, for pivotal movement between erected operative and folded inoperative positions, each of said end frame sections extending longitudinally and upwardly from one end portion of said intermediate frame section when said end frame sections are in the erected operative position, and each end frame section being foldable about its respective axis of pivot and to overlap the other in superimposed relation with respect to said intermediate frame section when said end frame sections are in the folded inoperative position, and an elongate flexible tow rope connected with one end of said ski member for towing said apparatus over the surface of the ground.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said channel-shaped intermediate frame section is comprised of a pair of spaced apart, U-shaped members extending transversely of said elongate ski member, and a plurality of elongate frame elements interconnecting said U-shaped members.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the axis of pivot of each said end frame section extends transversely of and is spaced above said elongate ski member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 209,039 Gregg Oct. 15,1878 715,572 Gregg Dec. 9, 1902 2,369,283 Czegka Feb. 13, 1945 2,629,608 Jones Feb. 24, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 681,823 France Feb. 4, 1930 209,789 Switzerland Aug. 1, 1940 230,823 Switzerland Apr. 17, 1944 

